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The last time anyone saw Susan Powell was at dinner on the evening of December 6, 2009, in her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. Soon after her disappearance, her husband, Josh, took their young children and moved to Graham, Washington, to the home of his father, Steven Powell.

Josh was already a suspect in the disappearance of his wife, and he had a lawyer, so why was he allowed to leave the state? And why was his demonstration of a total lack of concern for his missing spouse not sufficient reason to remove the children from his care?

But still, more than a year and a half later, Josh maintained control of the children. In August 2011, Susan's boys were living with their father and grandfather, even though there was an ongoing murder investigation and Josh was the only suspect.

Fellow Forbes blogger Susan Murphy Milano was disturbed by this custody arrangement and wrote, in a prescient blog post: “Each day those two young boys are with those men holds the uncertainty it may be their last…. A murder suspect, the only suspect, should never be allowed to care for the kids until the matter is resolved.”

In September 2011, Steven Powell was arrested and charged with voyeurism and child pornography for videotapes he took of young girls without their knowledge. Also in the footage were images of his missing daughter-in-law, Susan. Was Steven obsessed with her? If so, the possibility of his involvement in her disappearance seems more likely.

After Steven’s arrest, the children, at long last, were removed from that home. Susan’s parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, gained temporary custody of the young boys.

Earlier this week, the court mandated that the arrangement would be permanent. The 7- and 5-year-old boys were finally secure in a safe home.

However, although the children were no longer living with Josh and Steven, the court thought it appropriate for their father to have visitation rights, even though Josh had been ordered to undergo psycho-sexual evaluation and take a polygraph test. How could any judge in the state of Washington allow a disturbed and unstable person near two young children? Because he was the boys’ father was no excuse.

Today, a caseworker brought the boys to Josh Powell for a supervised visit. Josh locked the woman out of the house. Inside, Josh sent a text message to his lawyer that read, “I’m sorry. Goodbye.”

As the caseworker stood outside, she smelled a whiff of gas. Had she called law enforcement the moment those children were out of her sight? If not, why not?

Without further warning, an explosion rocked the home. In that horrible instant, Susan Murphy Milano's fears became a reality.

Law enforcement has said that the apparent murders/suicide was planned. Both children are dead--sadly, tragically, intentionally and avoidably murdered by their own father.